The Ming Dynasty: Starting with Emperor Chongzhen's crackdown on factionalism

"Chen Zhiyuan, if you want to die, I won't stop you. But if you die in office, die while investigating a case, or die because of your nonsense about 'responsibility for speech' and 'investigation,' that's your business."

"But don't implicate the Censorate! How many of the more than one hundred censors, officials, and clerks in the Censorate, along with the circuit inspectors below, rely on this salary to support their families?"

"You've stirred up a hornet's nest; when bees sting, they won't just sting you!"

Chen Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "The Chief Censor, the main duty of the Censorate, is to investigate and punish all officials, clarify injustices, and supervise all circuits. It is the eyes and ears of the Emperor and the department responsible for maintaining discipline."

"In my opinion, it is the duty of the Censorate to investigate the fraudulent use of military funds and to clarify the long-standing problems in the border towns."

"It's my duty?" Cao Yubian asked as if he had heard a joke.

"What is your duty? Impeaching a few corrupt county magistrates and prefects is your duty. Impeaching a few arrogant and domineering military officers is also your duty."

"But military expenses—the military expenses of the nine border regions, amount to several million taels of silver a year, involving the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Grand Canal, local governments, and border towns, from top to bottom, from officials in the capital to clerks."

"Let me tell you, Chen Zhiyuan, this military expenditure is completely clean."

He stood up, walked up to Chen Zhiyuan, and his voice became even colder.

"The Jurchens are eyeing us covetously beyond the Great Wall, and bandits are wreaking havoc in Shanxi. If we investigate military expenses now, and push the border generals too far, what if someone defectes to the enemy? What if the soldiers mutini? Can you bear that responsibility?"

"Your Majesty is young and impatient, but we, as your subjects, must steer the ship for you and not act recklessly!"

With each word Cao Yubian uttered, Chen Zhiyuan felt a chill in his heart.

It's not fear, it's a chilling feeling.

These words, so straightforward and so naked, lay bare the rules at the very bottom of the officialdom.

Chen Zhiyuan recalled the records of those officials from the late Ming Dynasty when later generations read history.

When Beijing fell, how many officials numbly awaited the new dynasty's appointment, and how many people were indifferent to the demise of their homeland?

They are not inherently cold-blooded; they have simply been immersed in this system for too long, to the point that they have forgotten what right and wrong are, and what the bottom line is.

This system is like a giant spider web, and everyone is stuck on it, unable to struggle.

Honest officials are marginalized, while corrupt officials gain power. Those who want to get things done find it difficult to move forward, while those who try to profit from the chaos thrive.

In the end, the entire dynasty rotted away and died little by little within these "rules".

"I will heed the instructions of the Grand Coordinator," Chen Zhiyuan finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.

"But since I have been ordered to investigate the case, I shall certainly investigate it thoroughly. The Yuan Chonghuan case involves military expenses, and if the accounts of military expenses are unclear, the Yuan case will be difficult to understand. This is the common sense in handling cases."

Cao Yubian stared at him for a long time, then suddenly waved his hand.

"You can leave now."

His voice sounded tired, as if he had used up all his strength.

"Investigate however you want. But remember, from today onwards, anything you investigate represents only yourself, not the Censorate."

"Any document you issue must be signed by me; otherwise, it is invalid."

"Your personnel are limited to Zhao Delu and those two captains. You are not allowed to use any other clerks or censors in the Censorate."

He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Go down."

Chen Zhiyuan bowed, turned and left.

Just as the door to the duty room closed, he heard Cao Yubian say something in a low voice.

"Young man, you're courting death."

The corridor remained empty.

Chen Zhiyuan walked very slowly, his footsteps echoing clearly on the bluestone slabs.

He knew what Cao Yubian would do.

It's not about stopping him—Cao Yubian isn't that stupid; he wouldn't openly defy the imperial decree.

But they will restrict him, isolate him, and spread the news of his investigation so that those who need to know will know.

Then, pressure will come from all directions.

Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, border generals, various factions in the court...

Anyone who profits from military spending will become his enemy.

When Chen Zhiyuan returned to the main room, Zhao Delu was waiting anxiously.

"The Vice Censor, the Chief Censor, he..."

"fine."

"I'm going to the palace."

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youjian was reading an urgent report from the governor of Shanxi, his brow furrowed.

The bandit leader Wang Jiayin's forces have captured Xiangning and are heading towards Pingyang Prefecture.

Shanxi's military strength is insufficient; please transfer troops from the Xuanda border region to assist in the suppression.

They want soldiers and pay again.

Zhu Youjian put down the urgent report and rubbed his temples.

"Your Majesty, Chen Zhiyuan requests an audience."

Wang Chengen reported this in a low voice.

"Let him in."

Chen Zhiyuan entered the hall, bowed, and stood up.

Zhu Youjian looked at him and noticed that the young man had dark circles under his eyes, but his eyes were still clear.

"Have you finished drafting the bylaws?"

"It's ready. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Chen Zhiyuan presented the detailed document.

Zhu Youjian took it and opened it.

After reading a few pages, he looked up and said, "It's so thick?"

"Your Majesty, the budget is a matter of great importance and must be specified in detail before it can be implemented. Otherwise, if there is only a framework but no specific procedures, it will be easy for clerks to take advantage of it."

Zhu Youjian nodded and continued reading.

He looked at things slowly and carefully. He would stop every now and then to think for a moment before continuing.

Chen Zhiyuan stood with his hands at his sides, waiting patiently.

The only sound inside the hall was the rustling of pages turning.

It took Zhu Youjian a full half hour to finish reading the last page.

He closed the booklet and remained silent for a long time.

"Well written," he finally said.

"The points are clear and well-organized, and the considerations are comprehensive. In particular, the points on 'on-site verification of troop numbers,' 'direct delivery of salaries to soldiers,' and 'resident supervision by censors' are very insightful."

Chen Zhiyuan bowed: "Your Majesty is wise."

"But," Zhu Youjian changed the subject, "it's too difficult."

He stood up and walked to the imperial desk.

"To verify troop numbers on-site, we'd have to send imperial censors to each border town to count heads one by one. Would the border generals agree to that? Do you think you can investigate those empty vacancies, those cases of drawing salaries without working?"

"If the pay goes directly to the soldiers, it has to bypass the generals and military officers at all levels. These people make their fortunes by deducting from the soldiers' pay. If you cut off their source of income, do you think they'll agree to that?"

"It's even more impossible for censors to be stationed there permanently. The border towns are bitterly cold, which censor would be willing to stay there year after year? Even if they were willing, the border generals have a hundred ways to make them 'unaccustomed to the climate' or 'die of illness'."

Zhu Youjian turned around and looked at Chen Zhiyuan.

"I understand your plan and find it reasonable. But in practice, it will be extremely difficult to implement."

Chen Zhiyuan raised his head and met the emperor's gaze.

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because every step is so difficult that we must proceed with swift and decisive action. If we proceed slowly, we will never achieve anything."

"The power of thunder?" Zhu Youjian smiled wryly.

"Bandits are rampant in Shanxi, the Jurchens in Liaodong are eyeing us covetously, factional strife in the court is incessant, and the national treasury is nearly empty."

Chen Zhiyuan took out the summary of the "clearing up of troop quotas" from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan."

Zhu Youjian took it, glanced at it, and said, "Speak."

"Let's take the Yuan Chonghuan case as a starting point," Chen Zhiyuan said slowly.

"The Yuan case remains a subject of ongoing debate in the court, with the focus being whether Yuan Chonghuan colluded with the enemy and whether he was guilty."

"But if we shift our focus to military expenditures—how were military funds distributed when Yuan Chonghuan was in charge of Liaodong? Were the troop numbers accurate? Were provisions and pay delivered?"

"Once these questions are raised, the court officials' attention will inevitably be drawn to them."

Zhu Youjian frowned: "And then?"